What to plant this week in Tulsa, OK
With the average last frost date in Tulsa hovering around late March, this week marks a critical transition for your Oklahoma City-area garden as temperatures finally stabilize above freezing. While you can't transplant anything yet since the soil is likely still too cool and wet from recent rains, it's an ideal time to push those heat-loving sowables like okra, sweet corn, and watermelon directly into prepared beds.
The next 7 days
Tulsa, OKGrowing in Tulsa right now
- Tulsa's heavy clay soil tends to stay soggy longer in spring; wait for the top 2 inches to dry out completely before making any direct sowing holes to prevent seed rot.
- The region's distinct humidity spikes can encourage powdery mildew on squash and melons, so ensure you space your zucchini and cantaloupe plants wide enough for airflow immediately upon planting.
- Given the short growing window ending mid-November, prioritize early-maturing varieties of bush beans and summer squashes now to guarantee a harvest before the first frost date.
- If your garden sits on a south-facing slope common in Tulsa neighborhoods, be mindful that these areas dry out faster than low spots and may require more frequent watering during this warm spell.
Sow this week
27 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
48 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks to extend your summer bean harvest.
- Apply a light mulch around newly transplanted squash and watermelons to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly now that they are established to encourage bushier growth.
- Prepare for a second planting of fast-maturing crops like radishes or lettuce if you missed an earlier window.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early season aphids colonizing the tender new growth of basil and shiso plants as the air warms up.
- Slugs and snails are still active in Tulsa's damp springs, targeting seedlings of nasturtium and pole beans before they even emerge from the soil.
- Powdery mildew spores may begin appearing on summer squash leaves if the humidity remains high while temperatures climb above 75°F.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants each morning to encourage deep roots while preventing fungal diseases on foliage.
Harvest your okra early in the morning when pods are tender, as they become tough and stringy later in the day.
Tulsa gardening questions
3Can I transplant my tomato or pepper starts now in Tulsa?
No, you must wait until after March 28 when the risk of frost has passed and soil temperatures consistently reach at least 60 degrees. Planting them now will likely result in root rot from cold, wet clay or shock from a sudden freeze.
Which beans should I plant this week for my Tulsa garden?
Focus on bush beans like Black-Eyed Peas and Scarlet Runner Beans, which handle our spring heat well. Avoid pole beans if you want harvests before the first frost in mid-November unless they are a very fast-maturing variety.
How do I protect my young melons from Tulsa's heavy clay soil?
Dig your planting holes deep enough to break through the hardpan, then mix in generous amounts of compost or aged manure to improve drainage. You can also mound seeds on top of the amended soil rather than burying them deeply in compacted earth.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your Tulsa garden in SproutGuide →